The Congress is yet to finalise its candidate for the Kanhangad Assembly constituency with the local leadership looking up to the KPCC to declare the consensus candidate to kick off the election campaign in the Left stronghold. Sitting CPI MLA E. Chandrasekharan is seeking re-election for a second term here.
The Congress had initially showed preference for Kasaragod district panchayat vice president Shanthamma Philip after the choice of INTUC leader P.G. Dev and DCC vice president Harish P. Nair met with stiff resistance from select quarters.
However, Ms. Philip’s choice faced objection from a section of partymen. As confusion compounded, reports suggested that the State party leadership had consented to the candidature of Mahila Congress district secretary Dhanya Suresh, the daughter of KPCC executive committee member P. Gangadharan Nair. However, Ms. Suresh’s choice faced vehement opposition from a section of party activists who threatened to keep away from electioneering.
‘As UDF Independent’
Earlier reports suggested that the name of K. Venugopalan Nambiar, son of the late M.K. Nambiar who had represented Kasaragod in the 1957 elections, was doing the rounds.
However, Mr. Nambiar, a familiar face in the region, who is known to owe allegiance to Janata Dal, reportedly wanted to contest as UDF Independent rather than in the official Congress symbol. The KPCC then omitted him from the list of probables.
Announcement soon
When asked about the party’s choice to contest from the segment, senior local party leaders, including DCC president C.K. Sreedharan, said the name was likely to be announced on Wednesday night or Thursday.
